Announcing New Sac Sustainability Academy (SSA) Cohorts:
We are thrilled to share we have received funding from California Volunteers’ Youth Service Corps through the City of Sacramento to offer two additional SSA cohorts!
Applications are Open!
The Sacramento Sustainability Academy is a workforce development program to provide young people an introduction to climate action and community resilience work. Building on SSP’s history of providing youth and young adults with hands-on experience with tools, home repairs, and high impact community projects, the Academy is focused on energy efficiency through the lens of building science, urban agriculture as a tool for achieving food security/sovereignty through permaculture design principles (often referred to as Afro-Indigenous wisdom), and manufacturing design skills to provide young people high demand and cutting edge skills for high paying professions.
We are hosting two urban agriculture cohorts in 2026, in spring and fall. Each cohort will last three months (12 weeks) consisting of one program manager, and six program fellows.
The schedule is consistent Tuesday through Friday from 8am – 3pm. Occasional weekend hours are required for special events.
Questions? Reach out to program leaders at ssa@sierraserviceproject.org.
Urban agriculture offers a transformational approach to community development, turning under-resourced neighborhoods into places where fresh food, economic opportunity, and local resilience can flourish. In areas where access to healthy food is limited, these local growing efforts create consistent, community-controlled sources of fresh produce that strengthen food security and support healthier lifestyles. Beyond food production, urban agriculture generates jobs, supports micro-businesses, and helps communities keep wealth local through farmers markets, value-added products, and cooperative ownership models. By activating vacant lots, engaging youth and residents in hands-on learning, and strengthening local supply chains, urban agriculture turns underinvested areas into vibrant economic hubs that improve health outcomes, foster environmental resilience, and build long-term community self-determination.
